is it possible to compile an object file?

My problem is this:

I want to take the necessary data from the various object related slk files and txt files and compile the object files that world editor uses to display the objects in its GUI editor.

Is there a tool that does this or is there someone who would know how to make a quick script that would do this for me? I'm most interested in getting w3a and w3u files, but if I could get a w3o file it'd be best. If I'm actually way off in my assumptions of how these files work, please politely enlighten me, and thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

If you mean reading .slk and .txt files RodOfNod made a tool for this...

I'll ask him

Based on what you said, I´ll assume you need a custom MPQ.
Create a new MPQ, add all the SLKs and TXTs to it and then use MPQDRAFT to open the WorldEditor using your brand new MPQ.

No BD, I think he means some conversion tool for SLK, TXT -> WEO, WEU (or so). As far as I know Pitzers Widgetizer does the exact opposite thing. There is also no real reason to do this (apart from being able to edit the data in the WE).

Yeah Starcraft, that's exactly what I want to do. I have some edited slk and txt files and I want to view and edit all the data in them in WE.

*Edit: Black, your idea worked perfectly, thank you. And thanks to everybody else who tried to help.

Also be sure to import your custom slk/txt files into the map because otherwise your changes will only apply in the editor but not in game.

Thanks. I'll remember that Mike.

Thats why I found the MPQDraft way to import the files in the editor kinda useless. You would still have to add them to the map, which adds to the filesize. So what you get is a crappy workaround at best.

Additionally there were issues with files being only loaded for the first game, then staying for subsequent games, meaning that you'd possibly get a desync on different games. Or does this only apply to blizzard.j?

The editor doesn't use the custom slk/txt files without the MPQDraft patch, even if the files are imported in the map. So the patch is kinda required unless you're using a local Units\ folder.

The loading problem is present only for doodads/destructables. Unit, Item, Ability, Buff, Upgrade files work just fine. I'm not sure about Blizzard.j

The crappy workaround was what I was looking for actually. I really wanted to edit an existing map (which will remain nameless) so that I could revamp it for an upcoming lan party, and the way they "protected" it was by screwing the editor files and importing all the slk and txt files that the map needed. I'll have to test to see if I get any desync or anything...

Thats not only protection. It's also a form of compression. Think about the Widgetizer

But yeah, if thats what you were looking for, no problem. Putting the files locally into the WC3 dir would have possibly even easier, the outcome would be the same.

What exactly am I doing wrong? I am trying to do the same thing he did, to view some stuff in editor.

But when I do it it says that the program doesn't use MPQs, what am I doing wrong?